Last chance to book a spring COVID-19 vaccine

News - 25 June 2024

With just one week left of this year’s spring COVID-19 vaccine programme, the NHS is urging all eligible people who haven’t yet had their top-up to come forward and get protected.

The spring COVID-19 vaccination programme started in April, with eligible people invited to come forward and book an appointment via the National Booking System or by calling 119.

Following advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), those eligible for a vaccine have until Saturday 29 June to book an appointment, with the last spring vaccinations on offer the following day on Sunday 30 June. Appointments can be booked via the National Booking System, the NHS App or by calling 119.

People eligible for a spring COVID-19 vaccine include:
• those aged 75 and over (you need to be 75 by Sunday 30 June 2024)
• adults and children (aged six months to 74) with certain health conditions
• care home residents.

The spring COVID-19 vaccine is also available at a range of pop-up clinics which have been set up across the Black Country. The clinics will be running until the end of June, with no appointment necessary. You can find your nearest pop-up clinic on the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) website.

Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country ICB, said: “As the weather gets warmer, it’s easy to forget that COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities.

“Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 and the spring booster
programme provides an opportunity for those who are at highest risk of severe illness to keep their immunity topped up.

“There is now only one week left to book an appointment either online or by calling 119 as the offer of ends on Sunday 30 June. So, I would encourage anyone eligible for a spring COVID-19 vaccine who hasn’t yet come forward to book an appointment while they can or pay a visit to one of our pop-up clinics.”

For more information on the spring COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the NHS website.

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Ask your pharmacist for health advice

This Ask Your Pharmacist Week (4-11 November), people in the Black Country are being reminded to speak to their local pharmacist for any health advice this winter.

Ask Your Pharmacist Week is an annual initiative organised by the National Pharmacy Association, which aims to raise awareness of the full range of services on offer in pharmacies.

This year’s theme is ‘professional and convenient healthcare, from your local pharmacy team’, highlighting the skills and knowledge of community pharmacists and the wider pharmacy team, and their track record of safely delivering clinical services.

At a time when the NHS is preparing for what is expected to be a challenging winter, people are being reminded of this vital line of support that is available in their local pharmacy.

Patients can also get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need to visit a GP. The Pharmacy First service enables pharmacists to offer advice to patients and supply NHS medicines (including antibiotics), where clinically appropriate, for:
• Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
• Sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
• Earache (aged 1 year to 17 years)
• Infected insect bite (aged 1 year and over)
• Impetigo - a bacterial skin infection (aged 1 year and over)
• Shingles (aged 18 years and over)
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (women aged 16 years to 64 years).

If you have symptoms that suggest you may have one of these conditions, you can walk into a pharmacy and be offered a consultation with the pharmacist. Should the pharmacy team be unable to help, you will be directed to your GP surgery or A&E as appropriate.

The NHS has created a video with local pharmacist, Salman Ahmad, talking about the Pharmacy First scheme.

Salman said: “Ask Your Pharmacist Week is a great opportunity for us to highlight the important
role pharmacists play in helping people to stay well, especially as we head into the winter
months.
“As experts in medicine, pharmacists can help you with almost any health concerns you may have, whether that's providing treatment on the spot or signposting you to the right alternative NHS service.

“And, with the new Pharmacy First scheme, community pharmacists can now supply prescription-only medicines where clinically appropriate to help with seven common health conditions which would previously have required a GP appointment.

“It’s vital that people seek medical advice in order to stay safe and well so please don’t wait for minor illnesses to get worse – think pharmacy first and visit your local pharmacy today.”
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Protect your child against flu this winter

Parents and carers in the Black Country are being encouraged to get their children vaccinated against flu this winter.

The flu vaccination provides vital protection to prevent children from developing serious illnesses and ending up in hospital during the busy winter months.

Children eligible for a flu vaccine include:
• all children aged two or three years on 31 August 2024
• primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
• secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
• all children in clinical risk groups aged from six months to less than 18 years.

Children aged two and three years, as well as those with long-term health conditions, will be able to get their flu vaccine at their GP practice. School children can get the flu vaccine at school through their school’s vaccination programme.

School aged children, from Reception to Year 11, who haven’t been able to get their flu vaccine at school, can also get their flu vaccine at catch-up clinics that are being hosted across the Black Country. There are a number of clinics being hosted during October half term and throughout November. Please visit the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) website for more information.

Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country ICB, said: “Children can catch
and spread flu easily, particularly in nursery and school settings.

“The flu vaccine is safe and effective, and most children will receive the vaccine through a nasal spray into each nostril. It is quick and painless and is the best available protection for children against flu. It also helps protect others who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu, such as babies, anyone who's pregnant and older people.

“With flu season nearly here, now is the time to schedule your child’s vaccination to ensure they are protected as soon as possible. If your child has missed out on their vaccination in school, or you'd rather take them to a clinic, please book an appointment at one of the catch-up clinics being held in the Black Country over the coming weeks.”

Children who cannot have pork gelatine in medical products will be offered an injection instead of the nasal vaccine.
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